Miscellaneous Ramblings From a Two-Wheel Rider

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My wife and I attended the Sea Otter Classic this past weekend. It’s the first time either of us have ever been to this event or really any event like it. The temperature and humidity were both pretty high for the area. The temps were higher than normal for this time of year in general here in Northern California. Had it been a bit cooler or a little less humid it would have been perfect. The Sea Otter Classic is held at the Mazda Laguna Seca raceway and if you’ve ever been there, you know there is very little shade.

My main interest this year was visting the vendor booths. I wanted to check out all the brands and equipment choices. Being new to this sport, I was a bit overwhelmed at times. I have a good idea of what I’m looking at when it comes to bikes but, I’m still learning about all the components and extras. I was able to see some bikes that I would probably have a very hard time finding in a local bike shop. We saw unique brands and semi-custom bikes that you just don’t find in as many bike shops as say a Specialized or a Trek. Even fairly well known brands like Diamondback for example. There’s simply no stores, at least not in my area, that sell anything buy Diamondback’s entry level bikes.

The weather kept us from sticking around to watch any of the events or races. It also muted my interest in test riding any bikes. I believe Giant, Trek and Specialized were offering test rides but those are all brands I can ride at a local bike shop. After making the rounds to all the vendor booths, we decided to call it a day.

After leaving SOC at Laguna Seca, my wife and I headed into Monterey for a late lunch at Hula’s Island Grill, a great place to eat if you’re ever in the area. After eating our fill, we headed to the cost for a short but beautiful scenic drive along the ocean. We pulled off at near the Point Piños Lighthouse and did a bit of exploring on the beach, the rocks and the tide pools. The tide allowed us to access an outcropping of rocks that juts out into the ocean. While we were exploring and cooling off, I was able to get some nice photos and my wife spotted a real Sea Otter sunning himself on the rocks.

Overall, it was fun to attend the event and it was also a great weekend getaway. I hope you enjoy the photo gallery.

Before I started working on the video for the Foundry Tradesman contest, I was spending time visiting a number of local bike shops to test ride bikes. I believe the only way to really know if you are going to like a bike, is to ride it yourself. Reading reviews and checking all the different manufacturers websites is fine and it can certainly help you narrow your search but, reading alone isn’t going to tell the whole story. I personally won’t buy any bike that I can’t first test ride.

It’s been a long time since I’ve really spent a lot of time riding a bike and I’ve never purchased one myself. The only bikes I’ve ever owned were either purchased by my parents when I was a kid or in the case of my current bike, something I inherited. When I started thinking about buying a new bike, I did some looking online to see what style bike would be best for me. After spending some time reading, I decided that a Hybrid bike would be the best choice for me. I came to that conclusion based on this reasoning.

1. I’ve only ever rode BMX or Mountain Bikes.
2. I’ve never rode a street bike with drop bars.
3. While Mountain Bikes are cool, I realize that 90% of my riding will be on pavement.

Since I’ve never purchased a bike for myself, I wanted to try out a lot of different bikes. I visited 6 different shops and tested 12 different bikes before I took time off to work on the Foundry video. Since I had already decided a Hybrid bike would be my best choice, I told the bike shops that while I wasn’t certain what I wanted, I was basically looking for a Hybrid. I also decided to keep notes about each bike I test rode, something I recommend you try to do as well. After riding a number of bikes they start to run together in your head. I didn’t spend a bunch of time taking notes, I just jotted down a few things after each ride. What I liked, what I didn’t like and how the bike made me feel. I just tried to think of some adjectives that would describe the bike best and wrote those down.

So here’s a look at all the different hybrid bikes I’ve tested to this point. If you’re new to riding or just getting back into it again, then perhaps this list will give you some ideas about which bikes or brands to consider. If you see something here that you like, find a local bike shop that carries the brand, visit the store and take it for a test ride.

Jamis Bicycles – Allegro Sport

The Allegro Sport from Jamis Bicycles was the first bike I test rode when I started shopping for new bikes. The reason I happened to ride the Allegro first is because the shop that’s geographically closest to my house carries Jamis bikes. When I walked into the store, I really had no idea what kind of bike I wanted other than I figured it would be a hybrid. Jamis sells a number of different variations on the Allegro. There are three different versions of the Allegro each with different components. The Sport is the base model for the Allegro line followed by the Comp and then the Elite. Moving up from the Sport model get’s you better equipment and increases the cost.

Just about every major bike manufacturer offers a few different grades with each model they sell. In addition to the three Allegro models I mentioned there are also three levels of the Allegro available for women. The “Femme” versions of the Allegro are designed slightly different to better match a woman’s body. Finally, Jamis offers the Allegro X, a variant of the Allegro that swings a little more towards the dirt side of hybrid bikes. It features a suspension front fork to soak up the bumps of either rougher paths or terrible pavement.

The notes I made about the Allegro were that it felt fast, fun and a bit twitchy. When I say twitchy, I mean that the steering felt quick and nimble, a quality that also demands you pay more attention to where you’re pointing the bike. All of my feelings about the bike probably have something to do with the geometry designed into the bike’s frame by Jamis. If you’re used to riding street bikes with narrow tires and shorter wheelbases, then the Allegro might feel different to you. You’ll have to try it for yourself to know for sure. The other notes I have on the Allegro are that the handlebar height is adjustable. By removing spacers you can lower the bars a little bit. The saddle was comfortable and a little squishy.

My final note is that the shifters, while completely functional, felt cheap. Moving up from the Sport to the Comp or the Elite models would most likely upgrade you to different trigger shifters. Of all the hybrids I’ve tested so far, the Allegro is the one that intrigues me the most.

Trek FX 7.3 and FX 7.4

I rode the TrekFX 7.3 and FX 7.4 back-to-back. There are 20 different variants of the FX in both men’s and women’s specific models. That’s enough to make you’re head spin. The FX must be a popular bike for Trek. The biggest upgrade the 7.4 has over the 7.3 is the addition of carbon fiber forks. Carbon fiber forks are known to soak up the bumps of rough surfaces better than standard aluminum forks. On this test ride, even over a hard packed gravel, I personally couldn’t tell much difference in the ride quality. I imagine over a longer ride the benefits of a carbon fork would become more evident.

I noted that I liked the ergonomic grips on the FX but wished the bars were a bit wider. Overall, I felt that the ride was a little rough but this probably comes from the fact that I’m used to riding a mountain bike which has fatter tires. Finally, I noticed that the seat was firm and hard.

Bianchi Iseo

The BianchiIseo has a certain coolness factor. Iseo is the name of a town and a lake in Northern Italy. The Iseo along with several of Bianchi’s bikes have a classic retro feel. While I appreciate retro styling, the look of the Iseo didn’t do much for me. I did however note that the Iseo was smooth and compliant. It also had a bit more of an aggressive forward lean to the bars than the other bikes I’d tested up to that point. The seat was comfortable and softer than many of the hybrids I’ve tested.

Specialized Sirrus Sport

The Specialized Sirrus is also offered in a few different variations. The Sirrus Sport is one step up from the base model. The Sirrius, like most of the Specialized bikes, is offered in variations that range drastically in price. The MSRP for the Sirrus ranges from $500 for the base model all the way up to $2100 for the Limited version. That’s quite a swing in pricing. Here the Limited version has a carbon fiber frame but even the step down model, the Sirrus Pro with it’s aluminum frame is priced at $1450. The Pro is nearly three times more expensive than the base model. Personally, I question whether the components on the Pro model are warranted for this style bike. The Sirrus Sport I rode felt very solid. The grips had a good feel to them. I found Specialized’s Body Geometry saddle to be very firm. It felt like they had stretched a piece of leather over a brick. While a hard saddle may seem like it would be uncomfortable that’s actually not the case for longer rides. I’m not going to get into saddle technology in this post but I did feel I should mention this. Finally, I liked the styling of the Sirrus, it’s a very modern look, which is in stark contrast to the Bianchi Iseo.

Giant Escape 1

Giant builds a road hybrid called the Escape. I tested the Escape 1 which is just one step up from the base model known as the Escape 2. Giant really mixes it up with the components on this bike. SRAM, Shimano and Tektro are all mixed in on this bike. There wasn’t anything about this bike that really stood out for me. I felt like the brake lever pull was too long but a simple adjustment might be enough to fix that issue. I wasn’t a fan of the SRAM X4 push/push shifter setup.

Raleigh Cadent FT3

The Raleigh performance hybrid lineup includes six Cadent models for men and four Alysa models for women. The Cadent FT3 is the top of the traditionally geared models. My test ride on the Cadent was brief and limited to bike shop’s rather small parking lot. I did like the Cadent but I noticed that my toe rubbed on the front wheel a couple times while peddling and turning at the same time. I wish I had more to say about the Cadent but that would require a longer test ride. It’s a bike that I think would be worth a second look.

Scott Metrix 30

The Metrix lineup from Scott includes four models. The Metrix 30 is one step up from the base model in the range. I had a limited test ride on the Metrix. Nothing really stood out but, I would really need a longer test ride to get a better feel for the bike. Moving up the range to the Metrix 10 get’s you a pretty nice mix of components but of course that will also increase the price. While the Metrix doesn’t have a suspension fork, I felt like it was a little more mountain oriented than some of the other hybrids I’ve tested.

Cannondale Quick 4 and Quick 5

I tested CannondaleQuick 4 and Quick 5 back-to-back. The Quick 5 is the base model in the lineup with a reasonable MSRP of $550. The Quick 4 adds carbon forks and a number of other upgrades, pushing the MSRP to $700. I like the Quick, it seemed like a very solid bike and I enjoyed the ride. When I tested the Trek FX with and without a carbon fork, I didn’t notice much of a difference in the ride quality over rougher surfaces. On the Cannondale Quick however, I found the carbon fork on the Quick 4 to be a worthwhile upgrade that produced a bit smoother and more compliant ride.

Focus Cariboo Peak

The FocusCariboo Peak that I test rode was a 2011 model. Cariboo Peak certainly seems like a funny name for a bicycle and I’m not really sure if the name is in reference to anything. The Cariboo Peak is one of two hybrids, I tested with front suspension forks. I was able to take a nice extended test ride on the Cariboo Peak. I found this Focus bike at shop located just about a block away from the American River bike trail. On my test ride, I was able to test both paved and dirt surfaces. I was also able to test the bike with the front suspension fork free and locked out. Switching the fork lockout effectively disables the front suspension or in the case of some suspension forks reduces the range of fork travel in steps. When you’re riding on smooth paved surfaces, locking out the fork will firm up the chassis and allow more of your energy to be transferred to the rear wheel. When the front suspension flexes some of your energy is lost. The suspension fork on the Cariboo did a nice job soaking up the bumps over the rough stuff though I’m not sure I would really need it for the type of riding, I expect to be doing. The Caiboo has a unique matte red power coat finish that I found quite attractive. In person the color was darker than it appears in the photo. I also liked hydraulic disc brakes on the Cariboo. They were both strong and the levers offer a good feel.

GT Transeo 3.0

The GTTranseo 3.0, like the Focus Cariboo Peak also includes a suspension fork. While I felt that the Focus Caiboo Peak had a nicer feel overall, the GT is available at a lower price point. I wasn’t particularly fond of the grips on the Transeo but replacing grips is pretty easy and they don’t cost very much. One other thing I didn’t like on the Transeo were the rather short brake levers. This is something else you could replace without too much effort or cost. Moving up from the GT 3.0 to the 2.0 not only upgrades the mechanical disc brakes to hydraulic but you also get nicer brake levers.

Well there you have it, a dozen different hybrid bikes tested. Riding a number of different bikes has given me a much better idea of what I want on new bike. There are a few more bikes that I have tested and I will cover those in a follow up post along with some information on how I am narrowing my choices to find the best bike for my needs and my style. Have you recently purchased a hybrid style bicycle? Share what you like about it by posting a comment.

Imagine you rode in for another day at the preschool. After a long 3 hours of learning the alphabet, finger painting, and decorating a picture frame with multicolored macaroni you return to the parking lot only to find your Tricycle has been violated.

In what seems like an attempt to also steal your 7 inch rear rims, they destroyed one of them before giving up. Finally, to top it all off, they swiped your new red and white handlebar tassels. F#¢k!ng savages!

Well, I didn’t make it to the final round in the Foundry Tradesmen contest. If I had, this post would be instructing you to go and vote for my entry. I found out that I had not made it to the final round a few days ago when Foundry Cycles posted the list of finalists to their Facebook page.

When I decided to enter this contest, I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew I would probably be facing some strong competition and I really didn’t have any expectation that I would win; especially when there was a whole nation of cyclists competing for one of five spots. That said, when I found out that I had not made it to the final round I was disappointed, more so than I anticipated.

I think the disappointment stems mainly from the fact that I ended up putting in a lot of time and effort into creating and producing my video entry. I was pretty satisfied with the end result and a received a lot of positive feedback from my test audience. Sure there are things I would change in the video if I was going to start over today but, I’m sure anyone who’s ever produced a video has said the same thing at one time or another.

The time I spent creating my video was not wasted, on the contrary, it was a great benefit to my ongoing education. I taught myself a number of new techniques in the Adobe video editing suite. I learned a lot more about Adobe Premiere, a little about Adobe After Effects, and I even learned how to use some additional tools in Adobe Photoshop, an application I have using for 20 years. All invaluable knowledge and more skills I can add to my résumé.

Today, Foundry Cycles published the list of finalists on their website. I looked through the stories for each of the entrants and they all seem to have a ton of experience in cycling. People with 20+ years in the saddle, individuals who have a history working in the bicycle industry, athletes who compete in century races or 24 hour events, and folks that already have a full stable of bikes in their garages or basements. I don’t know if that’s what Foundry was looking for when they selected their finalists, experience certainly wasn’t listed as a prerequisite to enter the contest. I can however see how choosing people with a lot of experience would make things easier for Foundry over the course of the program. Putting their bikes in the hands of individuals that already have solid base and lots of connections in the world of cycling seems like a sound business decision.

Even though you can’t vote for me to be a Foundry Tradesman, I still encourage you to head over to Foundry website and vote for a finalist in each of the five regions. You need a Facebook account to vote but, who doesn’t have Facebook account these days. I’m not going to campaign for any of the finalists but, I will encourage you seriously consider the three female finalists when you vote. Since, it was Arleigh, a.k.a. Bike Shop Girl’s blog that led me to the Foundry contest in the first place, I think I should at least try to persuade you to cast your votes for some Foundry Tradeswomen.

Getting back to my story, I spent the past few days thinking about what I should do now. I went through a series of reactions, from giving up on the idea of cycling again and closing up shop on this blog to dropping some cash on a different lust worthy bike and throwing myself into anything and everything cycling related for the next 12 months, totally kicking ass and “showing” Foundry what could have been.

Now I think my pity party is over and I’m ready to get back on track. I’ve decided to just go back to where I was about two months ago before I started working on my video. I’m going to continue my search for a bike. When I find one that I like that’s in my budget, I’ll get it and start riding. Exactly what I planned to do B.F. (before foundry). 😀

The only thing that’s changed is that I now have this blog. I’ve decided to keep blogging about my experiences with cycling. Instead of writing about all the things I’m doing as a Foundry Tradesman, I just be writing about all the things I’m doing as a regular guy getting back into riding after 20 years. I’m sure there are plenty of other people like me out there that are in the same place I am right now and would enjoy reading my stories and hopefully avoid the mistakes I’m sure to make along the way.

Finally, since it feels like the first chapter in my story has already come to an end, I decided that this blog needed a fresh new look. I’m sticking with the Twenty Eleven theme because it’s just so fully featured. The thing I like most about this theme is the responsive layout that magically changes based on the size of your browser window. This feature allows everything to flow properly whether you’re visiting on your computer, a tablet or a smart phone. To freshen the look, I switched to the light color style with black text on a white background. The dark theme looked cool and it was Foundry-esque but, it was harder to read. I also styled the background with a simple seamless pattern and changed the header image. It won’t be the last time I change the style of this blog but, it works for now. Just for record, here’s a few screen shots of the prior design.

So Chapter 2 begins here, I hope you’ll stick around and continue the ride with me.

If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to the bicycle lifestyle. The good news is, I’m learning. I’m a a bit overloaded digesting new information right now but, I know that will pass. As my friends and coworkers will tell you I’m a pretty good researcher. It’s one of the things I repeatedly get praise for from my peers and from my superiors at work.

When it comes to spending my hard earned cash on something I tend to go into research mode. My hyper-vigilant nature can sometimes be a bit of a curse. The good news is, when I make a decision, I feel good about the choice I’ve made.

So in preparing to ride again I’m shopping for all the different gear. Probably the most important bicycle accessory you can own is a proper helmet. So of course, I’ve been doing some research. I’ve found a number of websites with good information aimed at helping the prospective helmet buyer make an informed choice.

One site that I have come to appreciate is REI. The retailer has a lot of good and easy to follow articles and helpful videos for the prospective bicycle rider. When I first started looking for a new bike, I read a number of the articles REI has posted on their site. Their article, How to Choose a Bicycle Helmet is a good place to start.

I would like to reinforce one of the important points that REI makes in their guide, one that I think might often be overlooked by riders. If you’re involved in a crash where your helmet takes an impact, it’s time to get a new one. Just because it “looks” okay, doesn’t mean it will protect you properly in a subsequent crash, so don’t take that risk. Hopefully your helmet will remain crash free for years and if it does, you need to remember it still needs to be replaced every 5 years. Things break down over time and your helmet may not protect you properly if it’s very old. I learned these basic rules years ago because they are also true for motorcycle helmets. Think of your helmet as a very inexpensive insurance policy.

If you want to dig deeper for more information about bicycle helmets, then I recommend the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. To quote the BHSI they, “are a small, active, non-profit consumer-funded program providing bicycle helmet information.” They are part of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, a bicycle advocacy group located in our nations capitol. The BHSI website may not be pretty but, it houses a wealth of information.

Of particular interest to me is their information on bicycle helmets for the 2012 season. The primary recommendations of the BHSI for this year are to find a helmet that fits you well and has, “a rounded, smooth exterior with no major snag points.”

Something else mentioned in the article that I believe is worth repeating, is whether you spend $20 or $200 on a helmet, they all have about the same impact protection. Buy what you like but, know that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a helmet that will protect your noggin. I also recommend you have a look at the page BHSI has posted on helmet visors. The takeaway on helmet visors is that they can be problematic and they may cause you harm. On impact they could shatter, the edges could scratch your face, and there’s a chance they will snag in an impact jerking your neck.

To me, it seems like it would be easier and better to buy a helmet without an integrated visor or just remove the visor if the helmet you like comes with one. Instead of using the stiff plastic visor, that might cause you harm during impact, you can instead ride with a cycling cap, like the one pictured above. The cycling cap is lightweight and many are designed to be worn under your helmet. The material will help absorb sweat and the soft visor probably won’t cause any additional damage to your pretty face should you have an unfortunate incident.

Armed with the recommendations from BHSI, here are a few helmets that look interesting.

First there’s the Giro Reverb. The Reverb is smooth and rounded without any snag points like the BHSI recommends. There is a removable integrated visor on this helmet but, it’s made of a soft cotton material. If you’re looking for something that hits all the marks for safety according the the BHSI report, the Reverb looks like a great choice. I think the styling of the Reverb works for both on and off-road riders. There also seems to be a good number of large vents to keep things cool.

Next up is the Bell Faction. It’s features a smooth and rounded profile but, it’s skateboard / BMX styling may not be for everyone. You might look a little strange wearing this helmet while riding a road bike. Personally, I like the styling and I like that it’s offered in a wide range of colors all with different graphics. However, It looks like the Giro might offer a bit better ventilation.

Another brand worthy of consideration is Nutcase. Just about all of helmets that Nutcase makes are the same basic shape. They, however, offer enough styling options to suit just about anyone’s taste. Nutcase helmets range from simple solid colors to sparkly metallics and feature graphics that range from simple to outrageous. Something unique to the Nutcase helmets is the magnetic closure on the chinstrap. Don’t worry, their helmets are not held in place by magnets alone. The helmet isn’t going to fly off your head when you need it most.

Then there is Bern. The Bern G2 looks interesting to me. The G2 was new for 2011. The eight vents on the G2 seem pretty large and according to Bern they can be opened or closed. Being able to close the vents should offer greater comfort as the temperature changes. Like the Giro Reverb, the G2 features a soft removable visor.

Regardless of which helmet you choose, I believe you’ll be safer wearing any proper fitting bicycle helmet than riding without one. I don’t know yet which helmet I’ll choose. Like buying a pair of shoes, I feel it’s important to go to a local store or bike shop and trying on the models that interest you. If the helmet you choose isn’t comfortable on your head or doesn’t fit properly, chances are you probably won’t wear it.

What about you. Do you have a favorite helmet? Share it with us by posting a comment. I would love to know what recommendations you have.

Is it just me or have social networks become a little overwhelming? Personally, I think I would be happier if there were fewer of them. I first dipped my toe in the social network waters with MySpace. Just about the time I master the design for my profile with the proper background colors, etc. MySpace changed the rules and came out with something new. It was about that time I got on to Facebook. After I started using Facebook, I abandoned MySpace like it was the Titanic and never looked back. I think it took me a year to close my MySpace account but, I hadn’t updated it in about 10 months.

I’ve been using Facebook since 2008. Facebook and I have an on-again / off-again relationship. Sometimes I think it’s great, other times though, I’m not so thrilled with it. Sometimes I enjoy reading about what my friends are doing, other times it seems like my news feed is full of garbage. At one time my network of Facebook friends exploded but, I’ve trimmed things back since then. I still have over 180 friends in my network but, that number is less than it once was.

Right now, I’m trying to learn more about Twitter. It’s not that I don’t understand Twitter but I’m still feeling it out. I’m conscious of the etiquette of Internet and like a new student just starting middle school, I’m still trying to figure out how I can sit at the cool kids table during lunch time. One of the ways I would like to connect with people in connection with this blog, assuming it garners some interest is via the tweets. So if you’re a tweeter, my username is @stnkpalm

Another social media site that I’ve been playing around with is Pinterest. It feels like Pinterest if for girls. Of course there’s no rules or restrictions on Pinterest that would restrict it to the fairer of the sexes but, it feels like all the people I know that are using it are women. I got turned on to Pinterest because of my job as a DJ. I found out from a friend that a lot of brides were using the site to organize their ideas and links for wedding planning. I thought it might be a way for me to connect with potential clients and while there may be opportunities there, I’m not seeing them yet. Do I wish that my clients would pin my DJ website, yes. Will I start pinning my own content as a means for self promotion, probably not. I am using Pinterest to pin some tasty bicycle morsels. If you want to check out my pin boards, you’ll find me pinning as drrhythm

Foundry Cycles is looking for five brand ambassadors and I want to be one of them. If selected I’ll spend a year acting as an evangelist for the brand, a Foundry Tradesman. My duties will include riding their bike to local events, bike races, the grocery store, and just about anywhere it can take me. I’ll also be asked talk to people about what I think of the Foundry bike I’ll be given, answer questions they might have about the bike and perhaps let them take it for a spin. Additionally, I’ll be asked to document and share my experience through blogging, photography, and video. Foundry makes it clear, their ambassadors will have to earn their keep.

So let’s see, I’ll be given a fantastic, high-tech, lightweight bicycle which I will spend a year riding. As a result, I’ll reap all the health benefits such as, increased strength, enhanced muscle tone, improved cardiovascular fitness, and better heart health. I’ll also be “required” to meet new people who share a passion for cycling and spend time talking to them about my cool new bike. Finally, I’ll have to spend time taking photos, making videos, and sharing all the fun I’m having with the world through this blog.

It really doesn’t seem much like work to me.

Foundry want’s to know why I should be selected to ride for them. Why they should choose me as a finalist to for this program? I’ll be up against other entrants that will likely have more experience riding bicycles. Perhaps, people who have spent a good part of their lives riding bikes and competing in bike racing. There will also be individuals who have more connections in the world of biking. Maybe people who work in the industry, lead bicycle tours, or put on events. None of that means I’m not a good choice for Foundry.

I’m committed to this project, I’m committed to immersing myself in the bicycle lifestyle and I’m committed living up to Foundry’s expectations for their Tradesmen and women. I’ll turn my dream into a reality and 365 days later, I know I’ll be proud I’ve done it.

What’s my dream? With the help for a few friends and family members, I’ve created a video to illustrate just that. Michael Bay, Peter Jackson, nor even Kevin Smith are worried about my freshman foray into directing. Still, I think my video turned out pretty good and more importantly, I had a lot of fun making it.